Sunday, August 21, 2016

Envy Destroys Today's Tranquility

My kayak is inexpensive and little. It has none of the fancy doodads that the bigger, expensive kayaks have, like feet braces, dry locking compartment, or storage area behind the seat. It is 8-feet long, weighs 24 pounds, and is a no-frill kayak that fits easily in my van and I can carry myself. It is tippy (I am told) as far as kayaks go, though I have never felt unstable in it. It doesn't 'track' well - that is each oar stroke makes it zig and zag a little. Thus I don't kayak in a straight line, and it cannot cover nearly the mileage as quickly as a bigger kayak.

It is a humble little kayak that no one would look twice at or comment upon.

Except once.

Yesterday, I was easily and single-handedly unloading it from my van when a man who had just carried his kayak to shore offered to help me.
"Oh thank you," I said, "But it isn't necessary. I have no trouble with this little kayak."

I dragged it to the shore.

"That's just an 8-footer?" he said. "That's nice. Easy to deal with when you are alone."
"Yes. Nothing fancy, and slow, but I can handle it by myself and don't have to put it on the roof of my van to transport it. It is lightweight...perfect for me."
"I see that," he said. "I made the mistake of trying out a carbon fiber kayak yesterday. 16-foot kayak and weighs 32 pounds. I am waiting for the off-season sales." He paddled away, leaving me with thoughts of carbon-fiber kayaks.

I didn't know they made carbon fiber kayaks. If they made an 8-foot carbon fiber kayak, I bet it weighs only sixteen pounds! I began to wonder if this heretofore unknown kayak also had feet braces, and a locking dry well in the hull. Soon, as I set out on my kayak, I was in full lust after the unseen carbon fiber kayak.

How easily the beauty of what we have is marred by the longing and envy of what we don't have. All I want to say about this is forgive me, Lord.
***************

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot
obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not
ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on
your passions.

Envy...envy really is a work of the flesh, one we can never conqueror or any sin without the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I thank God for Jesus who through flesh conquered sin in the flesh so that His children, by His spirit dwelling in us will destroy every work of the devil. Praise Yahweh forever! Rooting for you too Vicky!

Published Author of book about Dog Rescue and Faith

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Follow me on Twitter: vicky kaseorg@vickykaseorg

I am a Christ follower who stumbles often, but tries to keep my eyes on Jesus. With that focus, I try to live life as exuberantly as I can, trying to commit all I do to God.
I am the author of a true story of a dying dog we rescued and the unlikely vehicle to find God's redemptive work. The book is available at http://www.amazon.com/Im-Listening-Broken-Ear-ebook/dp/B005BRF2UU/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310165479&sr=8-1-fkmr1